Upright automatic player-piano.



APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1912.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

a M M W x THE NORRIS PETERS coy. PHOTOLITHOH WAhH/Nb mN, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS W. SOUTI-IGATE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO VERONICA M. KOHLER, WILLIAM B. ELLISON. AND RICHARD \V. LANRENCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., EXECUTORS OF CHARLES KOI-ILER, DECEASED.

UPRIGHT AUTOMATIC PLAYER-PIANO.

Application filed February 19, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS W. SO'UTHGATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Norcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Upright Automatic Player- Piano, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to a detailed or modified arrangement of parts of the halfwidth automatic player-piano described and claimed in an application for patent filed by me October 9, 1911, Serial No. 653,560 and specifically shown in Figs. 6 and 6 thereof. In such application is shown and described what I believe to be the first half-width automatic player piano. This instrument comprises a set of strings divided into two sections arranged in different planes, a piano action arranged in sections out of line with each other but substantially within the same width, and suitable operating devices therefor. In said modification the said two sections of the strings are arranged back to back and the sections of the piano action are arranged on opposite sides of the set of strings.

This modification is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 is a cross sectional elevation illustrating a construction, and Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view illustrating a modification showing how two sounding boards can be employed.

Referring to the drawing and in detail, A

' designates the piano casing made of substantially half the width of an ordinary piano casing, and B-B designate two string frames arranged on beams C in the interior of the instrument and on opposite sides of a sounding board D.

EE represent two sections of strings each made substantially the same; that is, the strings may be arranged alternately on the frames BB so that the said frames will be substantially the same in shape. A single sounding board may be employed in this construction or a double sounding board D, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The strings are arranged to cooperate with the sounding board or boards by means of the usual bridge or bridges F-F'. A piano action is arranged to cooperate with the set of strings. This piano action as shown is divided into two Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Serial No. 678,657.

sections GG arranged at the front and rear of the set of strings.

I'IH" designate the set of operating pneumatics which is divided into two sectlons, each comprising two rows, the front section H being arranged to operate the front sectlon G of the piano action. and the rear section H being arranged to operate the rear sect-ion G of the piano action. The pneumatics are arranged on arms extending out from two valve boxes II secured to which are primary valve boxes I-I.

J designates the spool box which contains the tracker L over which the note-sheet O is drawn by the usual take-up spool M.

Q, designates the pneumatic motor for operating the note-sheet which is preferably in the same width as the tracker and below the pneumatics H.

R-P. designate the operating treadles which are pivoted to a frame or bar 12. which frame is attached to the casing by links 13 pivoted to blocks so that the pedals can be swung up into the casin out of the way when the instrument is not to be used, as indicated in dotted lines.

A door S is arranged to slide in the front of the casing to cover or uncover the opening through which the pedals are swung out from and into the piano casing. Each pedal connects by a link 14 to a long arm 15 supported by a crank-arm 16 pivoted in brackets 17. The arms 15 and 16 are secured to operate one of a pair of feeders or bellows TT. The feeders are arranged on a suitable wind-trunk U connected to which is a storer V. The wind-trunk U connects by any of the usual regulators by means of suitable connections, regulator and valve box to the motor Q. A support or ledge Y is arranged at the front of the instrument to carry the operating buttons and levers cooperating with which is a fall board Z.

The tubes coming from the perforations in the tracker L are divided into two sections 18 and 19, the bass section 18 being connected to operate the primary valves which control the operation of the front section H of the pneumatics, and the treble section 19 being connected to operate the primary valves which control the operation of the rear section H of the pneumatics. By these arrangements, a piano player of substantially half-width relatively to the set of strings is provided which has the advantages set forth more at length in my original application for patent previously referred to.

In Fig. 2' an arrangement of string frames is shown by which both a main sounding board D and a supplemental soundin board D can be employed.

The etails and arrangements herein shown and described may be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I desire to secure by Letters-Patent 1s 1. An upright half width automatic player'piano having a set of strings divided into two sections supported back to back, a piano action therefor divided into two sections mounted on opposite sides of the set of strings, and operating devices therefor.

2. An' upright half width automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two sections supported back to back, a piano action therefor divided into two sections mounted on opposite sides of the set of strings at the same level, and operating devices therefor.

3. An upright half width automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two sections supported back to back, a,

piano action therefor divided into two sections mounted on opposite sides of the set of strings, and a set of operating pneumatics therefor divided into two sections arranged at the front and rear of the set of strings.-

4. An upright half width automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two sections supported back to back on two similar string frames, a piano action divided into two sections mounted at the front and rear of the set of springs, and operating devices therefor.

5. An upright half width automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two similar sections supported back to hack, a piano action therefor divided into two sections arranged at the front and rear of the set of strings, and operating devices therefor.

6. An upright half width automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two sections supported back to back, a

sounding board between said sections of the strings, a piano action divided into two sec tions mounted at the front and the rear of the set of strings, and operating devices of the set of strings, operating pneumatics therefor, a pair of pedals located at the front of the set of strings, and a pair of feeders and a storer supported at the rear of the set of strings.

9. An upright half width automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two sections supported back to back, a piano action divided into two sections mounted at the front and at the rear of the set of strings, operating pneumatics therefor, a tracker supported at the front of the instrument, and a pneumatic motor mounted below the tracker.

10. An upright half width automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two sections and supported back to back, a piano action divided into two sections mounted at the front and the rear of the set of strings, a set of pneumatics vided into two sections for operating the actions, a tracker, a pneumatic motor located at the front of the instrument, a pair of folding pedals supported at the front of the instrument, and a pair of feeders and a storer located at therear of the instrument behind the set of strings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

G. Foarns'r Wesson, E. M. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi ratents,

Washington, D. G. 

